Hackskeptic’s 500 Greatest Songs: The Jam – Down In The Tube Station At Midnight

220 – The Jam – Down In The Tube Station At Midnight (1978)
Written by Paul Weller
Produced by Vic Coppersmith – Heaven
Label – Polydor

The well chronicled song writer’s “dry up” that afflicted Paul Weller following the success of their debut LP the previous year, and the less than well received “Modern World” LP, meant that The Jam were almost cast as also-rans as the New Wave began to explode. Pressured by this, he and the band worked tirelessly to regain momentum, and the result, 1978’s “All Mod Cons”, is still the band’s outstanding achievement. Weller’s true skill was that he was able to talk to ordinary people with an extraordinary voice, and the fears of the “yob” culture that gripped big city Britain is perfectly captured in this song. It is a stirring record of impenetrable depth that would open the door for one of Britain’s greatest bands.

Like the graphics Geoff! There’s arguments that “Sound Affects” is the more complete listen, and I get that. But this album proved that the band were more than stylists and trend setters. This is the album that realized Weller’s songwriting genius.